Science

Hawaii Is a Hot Spot Volcano

Run Time: 00:08:11

Melting that starts at the base of the mantle creates rising plumes of magma ("hot spots") that emerge at the surface. Volcanologist Dave Sherrod of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, USGS, and geoscientist Chuck Blay, of Teok Investigations, discuss that the hot spot below Hawaii provides evidence for plate movement: as the Pacific plate moves over the hot spot, it creates a string of islands, one after another, each one younger than the preceeding island. The newest island, where eruptions are underway, is now directly over the stationary hot spot.